State of Power 2013

Exposing the Davos Class

22 January 2013

Report

As the world's most powerful corporate leaders and richest individuals gather at the exclusive World Economic Forum in Davos, TNI offers a visual insight into who is dominating the planet at a time of systemic economic and ecological crisis.

Susan George provides an introduction to the infographic series, exposing how the unprecedented concentration of corporate and elite power is at the root of our economic and ecological crisis. See also: The Davos Class

Just 11 million people, or 0.15%, control $42 trillion dollars or two thirds of world GDP. An even tinier group of people, 0.001%, control a third of that amount. Where are they based? What could this money pay for? How much wealth does that leave for the rest of us?

Just 25 people, almost all men, increased their known wealth to $827 billion in 2012. That could pay for the costs for every student in the US to go to university more than three times or pay for universal primary and secondary education throughout the developing world four times.

Banks and Oil not only make up the most wealthy corporations, they sit on each other's boards and their executives include some of the world's most powerful political and social institutions. An insight into one dimension of the 'Davos class' power.

Connect with TNI

About TNI

The Transnational Institute (TNI) is an international research and advocacy institute committed to building a just, democratic and sustainable planet. For more than 40 years, TNI has served as a unique nexus between social movements, engaged scholars and policy makers.